Smoke-machine.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

G. W. HBILAND.

SMOKE MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 1o. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATBNTED MAY 22 G. W. HEILAND.

SMOKE MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 1o. 1905.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ANITEE sTATEs PATENT OEEIOE.

GEORGE w. HEILAND, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SMOKE-MACHINE.

T0 a/ZZ wit/)m 7125 may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. HEILAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new andv useful Improvements in Smoke-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for the testing of plumbing or a system of pipes by means of what is known as a smoke testI7 for the purpose of detecting and locating any leaks in the same.

Smoke is very penetrating and will, when forced into pipes under a small pressure, issue from any openin therein, however small, enabling a leak to e easily located.

Another method frequently used is to force air into the pipes, having lirst allowed the air to pass over asolution of peppermint, thus enabling a leak to be located by the odor ofthe escaping gas. p

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and eflicient device for applying either of these tests. The device consists in an outer inclosing case, preferably in the form of a vertical cylinder, supported on suitable standards and containing an inner tank or reservoir, also circular in form and having a double wall with a space between partially filled with water. A floating cover is provided which closes the above-described reservoir and provides a space from which the generated smoke is led to the pipes to be tested. If there -be any leaks in the pipes which will allow the smoke to escape, this cover will slowly settle, and thus indicate such aleak.

A separate and removable ire-boX for the generation of the smoke is designed to fit the space on the inside of theinner reservoir-wall. This fire-box is of peculiar construction and contains an adjustable attachment for holding a specially-prepared fuel which will generate a dense smoke, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

A further feature of my device is in the method of taking the smoke from the device to the pipes to be tested. An offset trap-fitting is provided through which the smoke must pass and which on account of its construction will cause any water-vapors to be condensed therein and allow only the dry smoke to pass through to the pipes. A valve is provided at the bottom of this fitting to allow any accumulated water to be drawn off and also to indicate the color and density Specification of Letters Patent.

Application iiled April l0, 1905. Serial No. 254,725.

katented May 22, 1906.

of the smoke passing therethrough. This offset fitting may also be used as a reservoir to contain a peppermint solution when it is desired to use the machine for this kind of test.

To generate smoke in the machine, a blower may be used which is so constructed as to provide a continuous draft of air at a uniform pressure. This has been found by numerous experiments to give the best results and provides for a continuous iiow of smoke of uniform density.

The operation of this machine will be clearly understood and more fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawin s.

gFigure 1 represents a side elevation of a device embodying my invention as used in connection with a blower of the type described. A portion of the cylinders surrounding the smoke-chamber and re-boX is broken away to show more clearly the interior construction. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the specially-prepared fuel-blocks enlarged. Fig. 3 is a top plan view and section of the removable iire-boX, showing the fuel-block in place. Fig. Il is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of Fig.- 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the blower shown in Fig. l.

At 1 is shown a vertical cylindrical outer jacket which may be constructed of wooden `strips held in place by circular band 2 and supported upon suitable standards, such as 3.

A tank or reservoir having an outer wall 4 and inner wall 5 is provided with a space between said walls which is partially filled with water and in which ya floating cover 6 acts as a gage to determine if any smoke escape from leaks in the pipes, allowing the cover 6 to settle, as has been stated. A fire-box 7 is arranged to fit in the space inside of the wall 5 of the water-reservoir. This fire-boX is perforated, as shown, and is provided with a grate at the bottom thereof. Suitable standards, such as 8, are provided to support the same at a suflicient distance from the base of the device to allow the air-draft to be introduced underneath the grate through a supply-pipe 9. A blower 10 is connected to the supply-pipe, and the flow of air therein is `controlled by a shut-olf valve 11. This blower .is so constructed that a continuous flow of air at a uniform pressure is supplied to the fireboX.

The construction of the blower (shown at IOO lIO

lor other suitable means.

10 in Fig. 1) is shown in the sectional view in Fig. 5. This blower is provided with a driving-shaft 30, which maybe turned by hand Mounted upon and secured to the shaft 30 is a large gear 31, which meshes with a, small gear 32, which is mounted upon and secured to a shaft 33. This shaft also carries a gear 34, which meshes with and drives a worm 35, secured to the vertical shaft 36. At the lower end of the worm-shaft 36 are provided fan-blades, such as 40, which are secured to this shaft by the hub 37. This fan is inclosed in a suitable housing 38 and provided with an outlet at 39, from which the air is takenv by suitable connecting-pipes to the interior of the smokemachine, as shown in Fig. 1. It is thus seen that the rotary motion of the driving-shaft 30 of the blower is multiplied many times by means of the series of driving-gears and that consequently a very rapid rotation of the fanblade 40 may be produced and the flow of air from the blower to the smoke-machine will be continuous and at a uniform pressure, which has been found to give much better results and to provide a more efficient test than any other means.

The advantages of a continuous flow of air at a uniform pressure, resulting in a continuous flow of smoke of a constant and a uniform density from the smoke-machine, will be evident. Y

The fire-box is'separate from the rest of the device and may be easily removed therefrom for the purpose of cleaning or repairing. On account of its peculiar construction and the perforated walls, which allow the air-draft to be forced through and out of the box at all points, it has been found that a vlarge volume of smoke This smoke is collected in the space in the interior of the oating cover 6, from whence it is taken through a vertical pipe 12 to the offset fitting 13, which is provided with a suitable means for attachment to the pipes to be tested.

On account of the trap formed by the offset in this fitting 13 any water-vapors which may be carried out from the smoke-chamber will be condensed therein and not carried to the pipes under test. These may be drawn off from the trap by means of the valve 14.

A valve 15, which may be designated as the peppermint-valve, may be located at the upper end of this fitting to provide for the pouring in of a peppermint solution. The air now passing over this solution in the bottom of the trap 13 will collect the vapors therefrom and carry the same to the pipes under test. It is thus seen that this trap serves a twofold purpose.

A fuel-block, which is designed to fit the interior of the fire-box 7, is composed of successive layers of tin, tar-paper, cotton, pasteboard, and burlap, formed in the shape is easily and quickly generated.v

shown in Fig. 3. The outer layer 16 is of corrugated tin, layer 17 is of tar-paper, layer 18 of cotton, and also corrugated, layer 20 of burlap, and layer 21 of tar-paper. This block when formed into the shape as shown is dipped for approximately half its thickness from the bottom up into pitch or other infiammable material. The upper half is then dipped into crude oil, so forming a combination which will generate a dense smoke when ignited.

The interior surface of the fire-box is provided with a slide 22, which engages a corresponding projection 23 on the fuel-block, thus enabling the same to he easily placed and held in position in the fire-box.

An offset 24 in the wall of the fire-box 7 is provided to allow the outlet-pipe 12 to be brought to the upper portion of the smokechamber.

The construction of the water-reservoir 5 provides a continuous water-jacket around the fire-box, as well as providing a water seal with the oating cover 6.

The device, as shown in combination with the blower, as described, is intended as an illustration of one embodiment of my invention, and it will be evident that many changes may be made in detail of construction withl out departing from the scope thereof.

1. A smoke-machine having a water-j acket inclosing afire-boX, afire-box provided with a grate and open at the top and also having openings in the side thereof, and means for maintaining a continuous flow of air at a constant pressure through said fire-box to produce a continuous iiow of smoke at a constant pressure from said machine.

2. A smoke-machine having a water-j acket inclosing a fire-box, a removable fire-box provided with a grate and open at the top and also having openings in the sides thereof, and means for maintaining a continuous flow of air at a constant pressure through said fire-box to produce a continuous flow of smoke at a constant pressure from said machine.

3. ]n a smoke-machine, the combination of a removable perforated fire-box, a waterreservoir surrounding said fire-box, a cylindrical float closed at its upper end and having the lower portion thereof immersed in the water in said reservoir, an outlet-pipe leading from the interior of said loat to a connection fcr communicating with the pipes to be teste 7 iiow of air through said fire-box, substantia-lly as described.

4. vIn a smoke-machine, thev combination of a removable Ere-box, a water-reservoir surrounding said fire-box, a cylindrical oat closed at its upper end forming a smokechamber therein and having the lower portion thereof immersed in the water in said layer 19 of pasteboard,

IOO

IIG

and means for maintaining a continuous reservoir, an outlet-pipe leading from said smoke-chamber to a U-shaped connection at the lower part of said smoke-machine, said U-shaped connection forming a trap in which any water-vapors will be condensed and collected, an outlet and connection from said trap to the pipes to be tested, substantially as described.

5. In a device for the discovery of leaks in pipes, thei combination of a reservoir having an inner and outer wall, a float closed at its upper end and having the lower portion thereof immersed in the wa'ter in said reservoir thus forming a chamber of variable size on the interior of said ioat and reservoir, means for supplying air in a continuous flow at a constant pressure to said chamber, an outlet-pipe leading from said chamber to a U-shaped connection at the lower part of said device, a U shaped connection adapted to contain a peppermint solution in the lower portion thereof, and an outlet forming a connection to the pipes to be tested, substantially as described.

6. In a smoke-machine, the combination of a removable perforated fire-box, a water reservoir surrounding said iire-box, a float closed at its upper end and having the lower portion thereof immersed in the water of said reservoir, an outlet-pipe leading from the interior of said float to a connection to the pipes to be tested, a blower having a rotary blade therein and adapted to maintain a continuous flow of air through said fire-box, substantially as described.

7. Ina smoke-machine, the combination of a removable perforated iire-box, a waterreservoir surrounding said fire-box, a float closed at its upper end and having the lower portion thereof immersed in the water of said reservoir, an outlet-pipe leading from the inl terior of said float to a connection to the pipes to be tested, a blower having a plurality of rotary blades and adapted to maintain a continuous flow of air through said fire-box, substantially as described.

8. In a smoke-machine, the combination of a removable perforated fire-box, a waterreservoir surrounding said fire-box', a float closed at its upper end and having the lower portion thereof immersed in the water of said reservoir, an outlet-pipe leading from the interior of said float to a connection to the pipes to be tested, a blower having a rotary blade driven by means of a worm and gear and adapted to maintain a continuous How of air through said fire-box, substantially as described.

9. In a smokemachine, the combination of a removable perforated fire-box, a waterreservoir surrounding said fire-box, a float closed at its upper end and having the lower portion thereof immersed in the water of said reservoir, an outletpipe leading from the interior of said float to a connection to the pipes to be tested, a blower having a rotary blade driven by means of a series of gears and adapted to maintain a continuous flow of air through said lire-box, substantially as described.

10. A smoke-machine having a fire-box provided with a slide adapted to engage a fuel-block and retain the same in position in said fire-box.

Signed at New York, in the York and State of New York, April, A. D. 1905.

GEORGE W.4 HEILAND.

county of New this 4th day of Witnesses:

LEWIS J. DooLITTLE, WM. J. SPALCKHAVER. 

